Free Anti-Spyware Scanners and Tools
Spyware tools, especially FREE spyware tools, should always be considered suspicious. Many of the pop-up advertisements associated with spyware are themselves full of adware and spyware! These free tools are my personal favorites, and they have an impeccable track record in the anti-spyware industry. Every one of these tools are on my hard drive, and they should be on yours, too!
Ad-Aware
Ad-Aware is one of the most powerful anti-spyware scanners available on the market, and Ad-Aware includes free and commerical versions! Platforms: Windows
HijackThis
HijackThis is a general homepage hijacker detector and remover. HijackThis is based on the article Hijacked!, but has been expanded to almost a dozen checks against hijacker tricks. It is continually updated to detect and remove new hijacks. This is a tool for hard-core propeller-heads, and unless you are sure of what you're doing, you should always consult with knowledgable folks before deleting anything. Platforms: Windows
Microsoft Security Essentials
Microsoft has created their own anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-malware software that runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. Platforms: Windows
Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes is a powerful anti-spyware application that can both protect and clean some of the most advanced malware you'll find. If you're trying to clean some especially nasty spyware, Malwarebytes can save the day. Platforms: Windows |
|